City Auditor Alex Marin Seeks Two Hires, Cites Audit Standards in Police‑Overtime Request

City Auditor Alex Marin opened the Syracuse Common Council's hearing with the Department of Audit's annual report and a budget packet that includes a request for two additional audit positions, saying the extra staff would allow simultaneous audits and follow-up work on prior recommendations.

Marin stressed the office's recent work — including audits that prompted changes to vehicle and traffic laws, licensing updates and higher fireworks permit fees — and told the council he had submitted a memo showing the administration's proposed budget alongside the auditor's own requests. "We are going to do things slowly, methodically, by the literal book to make sure when we produce findings and recommendations, they stand the test of time," Marin said.

Why it matters: The staffing and budget decisions the council makes this cycle will determine whether the audit office can broaden performance audits, pursue larger multi‑year reviews and follow up on prior recommendations such as the 2024 police staffing study. Council members said they need that information to make informed budget choices for police and fire, where overtime is a major cost driver.

Council members pressed Marin about a specific audit request from Councilor Moore for an examination of police and fire overtime and take‑home vehicles. Marin said he had responded in writing to that request and refused to perform the five‑year audit in the six‑week window the council initially asked for, arguing it would violate government auditing standards known as the Yellow Book. "I am not going to do an audit that violates auditing standards because that would jeopardize the independence of this office and the integrity of our findings," Marin said.

Councilor Moore said her request targeted the drivers of overtime and asked that the office complete a focused review in a six‑month timeframe to support this year's budget decisions. "When I asked for the audit, I was asking to really take a deep dive into overtime and what was driving overtime," Moore said, adding the 2024 police staffing report did not provide the level of detail she needs for budgeting.

A separate council member raised concerns about whether prior individual requests for audits had been given due consideration and said communications around a council resolution were lacking. Another council member described feeling that Marin's earlier reply to a request included a rebuke tied to previously unfunded staffing requests; that councilor later characterized that reply as a "microaggression." "I considered it microaggression," the councilor said. Marin replied that he had asked for additional positions previously and would continue to advocate for the office's independence and resources.

On staffing and budgets, Marin said the auditor's office has one part‑time Auditor 1, and the proposal is to add one full‑time Auditor 1 and one part‑time Auditor 1 to create two auditing teams able to perform concurrent or larger-scale audits. He listed current staff by name: Deputy City Auditor Matthew Cutney, auditor 3 Mike Gougert, secretary Raj Biswas and part‑time auditor 1 Debbie Summers.

Marin added that Auditor 1 salaries (starting in the low $50,000s) make it unlikely the office would hire a certified public accountant at that pay grade, and that hiring is conducted via publicly posted job notices. He also cited past investments: his office spent $150,000 of taxpayer funds on an outside consultant for the police staffing study and has not had sustained committee engagement on those findings.

On budget line items, Marin told the council that a $25,000 contractual expense in the audit budget covers outside legal counsel required by a 2023 charter amendment, and that other professional services include memberships such as the New York State Government Finance Officers Association. He also congratulated staff for meeting Yellow Book continuing professional education requirements (80 hours each) as part of the office's compliance and training efforts.

The hearing concluded with the chair asking for a motion to move forward; the provided transcript ends before any motion or vote was recorded. The budget discussion and the question of whether the auditor will undertake a focused overtime review remain open items for the council's continued deliberations.

"I sent a response at length which went through the previous work I have done on public safety matters," Marin said, noting he had provided copies of the prior police staffing study; Councilor Moore said she had sought more specific overtime drivers to inform budgeting.